APRICITY... Jan Rozmanowski

Witch

Jans POV:

I woke up to the sound of voices echoing through my apartment. Confused, I rubbed my eyes from sleep and glanced at the clock. 4:02 am said the alarm on my bedside table in bold and bright font, causing me to slightly squint my eyes. 

Why was Julia up so early? 

I put on my slippers and slowly made my way out of the bedroom. As I approached the bathroom, I could hear faint sniffling behind the closed door.

She was on the phone, her voice trembling as she spoke. The person on the other end seemed to be shouting and yelling. Obviously concerned, I tried to open the door, only to find it locked.

"Don't come in," she cried, her voice filled with desperation.

"What's going on?" I yelled through the door, my worry growing by the second.

"It's really nothing. Please leave me alone," she pleaded, her voice cracking with every word.

"If you don't unlock this damn door, I'm going to break it down," I threatened, my concern turning into urgency.

There was a moment of silence before I heard her stand up. Still sniffling, she finally unlocked the door without opening it herself. I pushed the door open rather aggressively.

There she was, her cheeks fire red and her eyes swollen from crying. Her phone lay on the cold bathroom floor, buzzing with texts and missed calls. 

Our eyes met, her bottom lip quivering as she tried to stop the sobs. Without a word, I wrapped my arms around her. She buried her face in the crook of my neck and let the tears flow.

"It's my mother...again," she sobbed, her tears soaking my shirt. I didn't care about the clothes - all I cared about was comforting her.

"That witch again," I muttered, trying to offer some solace. I saw a flicker of a smile on her lips, but it quickly faded.

She cried and cried, her tears seeming never-ending. I gently patted her back, holding her tightly. We stood like that for what felt like an eternity until her breathing slowed and her heart began to steady.

After a while she pulled away from me, her eyes filled with gratitude and a crooked smile on her face.

"Thank you," she whispered. I kissed her cheek in response.

"Anytime," I whispered back.

I didn't press her for details about the call. I knew she had more than enough on her plate already.

Taking her hand in mine, I traced small circles on her skin with my thumb and gently pulled her out of the small room. We made our way to the kitchen where I prepared us some peppermint tea. She added a teaspoon of honey to hers, while I added two to mine.

I took our mugs and led her back to the bedroom, placing them on my bedside table. She sat down beside me, turning on the small yellow lamp next to our drinks. We sipped the tea in silence, finding comfort in each other's presence.

Sometimes, silence is all you need. The only sound that filled the room was the gentle patter of rain against the windowpane. 

Typical London weather.

We finished our beverages and placed the empty mugs on the table. I turned off the lamp and climbed under the duvet, pulling Julia close to me. Together we drifted off into a deep sleep.

No school tomorrow.

Julia's POV:

The next few days were a total blur. I woke up with a pounding headache, feeling as if I had been drinking for a living the day before. My memory was hazy, and I couldn't recall much. I'm pretty sure I threw up, though.

My mind was blank.

Jan took good care of me, making tea and ensuring I was comfortable the whole time. He was like a guardian angel, always by my side. I really don't deserve him.

I haven't spoken to my mom in a week, and we haven't been to school either. Instead, I have been doing some online classes to avoid falling behind.

My head throbbed, ears rang, and my nose was stuffy. Being sick was disgusting, and I absolutely hated it. But Jan's presence made it kind of bearable.

We still haven't told anyone about our relationship yet, not even Sophie. We wanted to take things slow and savour the moments we had together.

Alright, who am I kidding. Nothing is going slow.

Don't blame me, love made me crazy- Taylor Swift
(Literally)

As I finished my online class, I shut off the computer. My eyes were burning and I just wanted to take them out to rinse them under cold water.

A shiver ran down my spine as I stepped onto the cold floor. I opened the bedroom door to find Jan on the phone. I didn't want to interrupt him and made my way to the kitchen to make some tea. 

There was only one packet of peppermint left. I filled the kettle with water and plugged it in, waiting for it to boil. Sitting on one of the wooden chairs, I hugged my knees to my chest and just watched the clock tick.

When the kettle timer went off I poured the boiling water into the mug, careful not to spill and possibly lose a finger or two.

 I grabbed the honey jar from the shelf and added a teaspoon to the steaming mug. The birds chirped outside, creating a serene atmosphere. Other than that, it was awfully quiet. It almost felt as if time had slowed down in London.

Carrying the hot mug in my hands, I walked back into the living room. Jan had finished his phone call and the room was filled with a comfortable silence. I sat down on the couch, placing the cup on the coffee table.

Jan broke the quietude, his voice filled with excitement: "Some magazine wants to do an interview with us," he announced. 

My eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my god, what?" I exclaimed in a much louder tone than I probably should of.

"Yeah, it's tomorrow," he replied, his smile fading as he noticed my expression change. "But you don't have to worry about it. Since you're sick, I'll do it alone. Everything's gonna be fine," he reassured me.

I placed my hand on his and nodded. He flinched at the coldness. 

"Julia, your hands are absolutely freezing," he chuckled, his eyes filled with warmth as he looked into mine. He gently caressed my cheek before standing up. I stared at him, my brows furrowed.

"I'm going grocery shopping," he explained, "the fridge is empty, and we need more tea." 

"You don't have to always explain yourself," I smiled and blew him a kiss which he caught and placed on his heart, as he always did.

He returned the smile and left the apartment, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My mind felt clouded and I struggled to remember the events of the past few days. It was as if I had been in a fog, disconnected from reality.

I leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. The silence enveloped me.

The rain continued to beat against the window, creating a soothing rhythm. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to relax and let go of the worries that plagued my mind.

When Jan returned from the store, he found me in a peaceful state, my breathing steady. He placed the bags on the kitchen counter and made his way to the couch. Gently, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer.

"I'm here," he whispered, his voice filled with love. I nestled into his embrace, feeling safe and protected.

.................................................................................
Idk why but I always write the saddest chapters when I'm half asleep.
If you liked it, don't forget to vote, comment and follow me.
Leave all suggestions on Instagram or TikTok
@/JannOurBbg
❤️❤️